Month: December 2012

Well, it’s that time of the year again – it’s time to put together your New Year’s resolutions (and vow not to break them no matter what happens!) But have you ever thought about New Year’s resolutions for your baby? Here are a few of our favorites that will help your little one grow and bring fun to the entire family!

It’s time to begin learning a language – a foreign language! New studies show that babies have a penchant for learning multiple languages in their earliest infancy. This could be your golden opportunity to not only teach them a language you know, but to learn a new language together – parent and baby. We live in a global world, so why not raise a global baby?

Get rid of that pacifier! There are new studies that show that overuse of a pacifier beyond a certain age can have detrimental effects on the normal development of babies’ teeth. The pacifier should only be used when your baby goes to sleep, and then should promptly be removed. By two years of age, you should be doing your utmost to help them break this habit.

Music makes the world go ‘round! Don’t neglect the musical benefits on brain development for your baby. There are a lot of different ways to promote musical development. Sing to your baby, sing with your baby, and don’t be afraid to start music lessons for your baby earlier than grade school. Children benefit from better spatial reasoning and a host of other things!

Explore the power of art. It helps promote communication, complex problem-solving, and many other real-life skills! So don’t be afraid of a little splattered paint – it’s doing them a lot of good.

Don’t underestimate the power of routine. Once your baby is comfortably established and is ready to begin a steady routine, don’t hesitate to put your plan to work. A healthy routine is great for anyone, especially a baby. If you expect your baby to fall asleep by a certain time, then you have to set up a routine that falls in line with that. Build your routine around specific events like mealtime.

These are just a few ways that you can get innovative when it comes to actually implementing resolutions. Remember to have fun with these ideas and you will definitely be on your way to a new baby and a new you!

It’s never easy being a new parent, believe us, we know! This challenge is even greater when you add the element of entertaining guests into the equation. There are several key distractions that can hurt your ability to be a gracious host. However with just a little bit of planning, you can fulfill all of your parental responsibilities and host a night to remember, simultaneously. Balancing these two things out can help you relieve stress. Here are a few helpful tips that can show you the path to balancing the two.

1.) When it’s time to put your baby to bed early in the evening, encourage your guests to move to a room away from where he or she is sleeping. This will allow the baby to sleep harmoniously while still promoting a social atmosphere in which everyone can still have a great time.

2.) Next, make sure you encourage your guests to interact with your baby. This is a win-win situation because it promotes an environment of healthy playtime. Also, it allows the guests to have a great time getting to know your baby (and of course take adorable photos).

3.) Always feed your baby before feeding your guests. This will ease your mind, and it will also make him or her much more peaceful. Feeding your guests will also take a lot more time. There’s no need to delay.

4.) This is one that often gets overlooked, but keep all alcohol consumption to a minimum. Guests who drink have the tendency to get loud which could lead to waking the baby, at the very least. Also, you don’t want your guests interacting with the baby, because accidents can occur, and no one wants to be a part of that.

Make sure you relax, or your tension will show. If you can enjoy the night without being tense, you’ll have achieved the perfect balance.